REPRIEVED Billingham Town kick-off the New Year at Esh Winning and with their future secure.

Top flight Town can now concentrate on football after winning their all-or-nothing legal battle with Hartlepool United.

The Football League outfit withdrew a winding up petition against Town on the eve of a court showdown last week after saying they had found a third party willing to pay their £10,000-plus claim arising from the disputed terms of the deal that allowed their reserves play at Bedford Terrace - a sum the Billingham outfit were adamant they did not owe and would not pay.

Defiant Town insisted they were poised to fold completely and go out of existence rather than pay a bill they did not owe if the case had gone against them.

“It’s the best Christmas present we could ever have had,” said Town chairman Tommy Donnelly.

Northern League chairman Mike Amos hopes the decision marks a new detente between the clubs.

“If Hartlepool are to continue to use Billingham Town’s ground, I hope it can be for the benefit of both clubs,” he said.

Town will be hoping to celebrate with a win over second-bottom Esh to take them into the top half as the league bursts back into life after six weeks in the deep freeze.

Their last action was a 3-2 win over Bishop Auckland on November 20, the last full programme to be completed before the big freeze.

Elsewhere in the top flight, strugglers Stokesley will be looking to pick up where they left off as they go to West Auckland.

Their last game, also on November 20, saw one of the shocks of the season as they won 2-1 away to high-flying Newcastle Benfield, but they remain third-bottom.

Billingham Synthonia warm up for next week’s rescheduled FA Vase third round tie at Hereford outfit Westfields with a tough trip to champions Spennymoor in the Durham Challenge Cup.

In Division Two Guisborough Town, in second, visit sixth-placed Team Northumbria looking to get straight back in the groove. The Priorymen trail leaders Newton Aycliffe by four points with a game in hand and will be keen to bounce back from a narrow 2-1 derby defeat to Marske in their last outing.

Marske meanwhile go to lowly Darlington RA looking to barge into the promotion places. They are in fifth but are only two points behhind third placed Whickham with two games in hand.